By Akpan Kehinde
Abuja – The Chairman of Karu Abattoir Butcher Association, Mr Carter Mogaji, has urged the Federal Government to provide facilities to maintain the abattoir for conducive environment for both humans and animals.
Mogaji made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
“During the last rainy reason, we experienced loss of money because of the condition of our environment and we cannot keep our animals for long.
“If you buy a cow from the market for N200, 000 and you keep it here for two or three days before killing, the value will reduce to N180, 000.
“This is because the cow cannot sit or lie down till daybreak because of the environment,’’ he said.
Mogaji, however, said the association had been collaborating with the veterinary doctors and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure that the abattoir was in good sanitary condition.
He commended the ministry for the intervention in Karu Abatoir.
“They have been of great help to us to ensure that we take the abattoir to another level through their advice and support but we need more to be done which the ministry alone cannot do.
“But as an association, we are also trying because if we wait for the government, this place will not look like this,‘’ he said.
He further commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), saying that the vehicles given by the FCTA to transport meat from the abattoir to other markets had been very helpful.
NAN however observed that after the yuletide, the environment has improved but not enough as filth and stench still pervade the environment resulting to some of the cattle being infected.
Abdullahi Yahaya, a herder called on the government to help them to improve the environment of the abattoir as the season was not conducive for the cattle.
“The season makes us to lose money and reduce the value of our cattle because they cannot sit or lay
down.
“This is because of the muddy ground and sometimes they do not eat and if they don’t eat their money value decreases.
“The season is different and better now but still the animals are prone to different kind diseases because every season has its own way it effect on the animals, just like it does on human beings.
“Government should come to our aid to make our environment conducive,” he said.
Oyinyechi Nwosu, a trader said “though the abattoir is mainly for killing and selling of animals, but we the traders also appeal that the government will come to our aid in improving the environment for us.’’
(NAN)